PenScribbler

Pack 4 for #Covid aware and #LongCovid patient and research community to help us rebuild on Bluesky 💙go.bsky.app/SFsSVSc Additions welcome. Previous packs: 1. go.bsky.app/JvVAoFt 2. go.bsky.app/MjGuFEe 3. go.bsky.app/Q9FoCjK See #LongSky and beyond.

Absurd gimmick. Stopping asylum seekers from working pushes people into destitution and forces reliance on meagre welfare payments. Time for a common-sense change to law to allow asylum seekers to work - to support themselves and contribute to the economy telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/2…

🎉 GIVEAWAY 🎉 We’ve got a signed copy of Unheard: The Medical Practice of Silencing by @crageshri 🌟A vital read on medical gaslighting + power. To enter: ✅ Follow us 💬 Comment to let us know you've entered 🔁 Share for a bonus entry Ends 28 July | UK only #booktwitter

"Long Covid is caused by Covid. That is the bottom line. We need to get away from the judgements around this illness. Our bodies are ill. There does not need to be a judgement here. It is what it is." 🙏 Beautiful, thoughtful piece by Dr Elke Hausmann bjgplife.com/long-covid-and…

Ministers keep trying to wriggle out of the 'fluctuating conditons' question because folk aren't asking quite specifically enough. Please, please always mention the Severe Condition Criteria cos it is this that 8 out of 9 new claimants are discriminated against cos fluctuating.

The Department for Work and Pensions has finally released excerpts of secret reports that show its errors contributed to deaths of universal credit claimants, days after MPs voted for £2 billion-a-year-cuts to the UC health element. #DWP #UniversalCredit disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-publishes-…

Government quietly releases multiple disability research reports on the same day… eight days too late for MPs disabilitynewsservice.com/government-qui… Most @UKLabour MPs loyally voted for the #UCBill without knowing the facts and knowing the impact. Obvious but needs saying. Via @johnpringdns

🚨 NEW: The boss of Motability has hit back at “misrepresented” and “hostile” commentary after a website was created to identify Motability vehicles [@johnpringdns]

The Lords emptied after the media ownership debate yesterday, with only dozens of Lords left to vote on the #WelfareBill. @natalieben's motion of regret was voted down 120 to 17 by Labour and Conservatives and the bill to cut #DisabilityBenefits passed. benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/universal…

Total UK Covid Deaths to 11th July 2025 *Provisional* 249,247 *Estimated from previous occurrences to 29th December 2023 + Registered Deaths since then. *Likely an undercount

President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth seem to be on a mission to erase women from the top ranks of the U.S. armed forces. theatlantic.com/newsletters/ar…

Celebrating the MPs who voted against the UC Bill ✊ Andy McDonald voted against the UC Bill He said: "The bill is not welfare reform. It is a cut, and it is the creation of a two-tier welfare system." Thank you for your steadfast support of the disabled community 💜✊…

UK welfare spending is 10.6% of GDP. Right wing press never mentions that it is well below the OECD average. UK has some of the least generous welfare across OECD. No questions asked about corporate welfare, uncosted tax reliefs to corporations/rich. gov.uk/government/pub…

Thank you @natalieben for trying today. Your motion didn't pass, astoundingly, but it will be gratefully remembered. And thank you @SalBrinton. Honesty and basic kindness and decency are so badly needed now.

The Universal Credit Bill has passed. The Motion of Regret did not. I am heartbroken. We got powerful truths spoken in the Lords which may help later in legal and public fights. But.... What is this thing called Labour. Not something I morally recognise Love to all x

And that's me done with the commentary. Universal Credit Bill has passed the House of Lords. Unsurprised but am surprised Motion of Regret was not supported. What a shit show. Goodnight peeps.

2/ what is noticeable is that only around half of adults previously receiving DLA are successful in their PIP applications .../3 #TakingThePIP

My daughter died from ME. This new plan fails her and others like her. thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/…

Ok, possibly less bad /actually good news perhaps as a result of our lobbying. For the Severe Conditions Criteria, a diagnosis will count IF recorded in the NHS system i.e. recognised by the NHS. So a private autism or ADHD diagnosis will qualify IF your NHS GP has it on record.

"There are people who will never be able to work but their lives still have a purpose" Hear Hear! #TakingThePIP

Baroness Bennett @natalieben said: “Disabled people need to hear our support.” That’s never been more true. Today and tomorrow, every word of validation for the dismantling we face— Every word of affirmation for the many ways we matter—It all counts. Say it loud. Say it often.